Times of Trenton Letters to the Editor - May 6

Kudos to Jim Waltman of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association for identifying options other than ELSA to meet the future wastewater management needs of southern Hopewell Township (“There are alternatives to ELSA sewer expansion,” April 26).

Mr. Waltman points out that there are alternatives that may meet the wastewater needs of southern Hopewell. Use of natural processes such as the wetlands to treat wastewater may be just as good, and perhaps superior to, the intrusive expansion of ELSA into the township. And it may be far less expensive.

Under the current ELSA sewer bond ordinance, the majority of the Hopewell Township Committee in office last year (Kim Johnson, Jim Burd, Michael Markulec and John Murphy) voted to increase our debt by $4.1 million to just reserve sewer capacity at the ELSA wastewater treatment plant. Not a shovel goes into the ground, not one piece of sewer pipe is installed, and not one manhole cover is paid for if this ordinance is approved by the voters May 8. We’ll pay $4.1 million for the mayor of Hopewell to simply sign an agreement that doesn’t do anything but allow us the luxury of reserving capacity at the ELSA plant.

If the referendum is approved May 8, the possible alternatives pointed out by Mr. Waltman will not be explored. We need a fresh start to evaluate options other than ELSA. I appeal to all registered voters in Hopewell Township to vote “no” May 8.

-- Peter Sandford,
Hopewell Township

If only government would support American workers

Federal regulatory burdens have been a major contributor to the loss of 2 million private-sector jobs over the last three years. This loss of jobs parallels the tenure of our incumbent Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Westfield), who has consistently voted in favor of these onerous regulations.

A member of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Lance voted with President Barack Obama in favor of cap and trade. Though the bill failed to pass Congress, it serves to underline Mr. Lance’s environmental radicalism that has been so costly to the American economy.

Rep. Lance also voted with President Obama to continue the moratorium on offshore drilling, unnecessarily limiting domestic energy production and forcing greater-than-necessary dependence on foreign supply. This has sent energy costs skyrocketing.
New EPA regulations will force the closure of an additional 32 coal plants this year. Mr. Lance remains silent as our energy sources are diminished.

The balancing power given to the House is that of final funding authority. While Rep. Lance voted to repeal the health reform act, he also voted to fund it.

In order to remain competitive, American companies are forced by escalating costs to locate their facilities elsewhere. This is costing us jobs and making more people reliant on government programs.

On the two major issues, cap and trade and health reform, Leonard Lance has voted to kill American jobs.

Americans remain capable of being the most productive workers in the world. All they require is for government to stop erecting roadblocks. This does not have to preclude us from being good stewards of our environment.

-- Larry Blatterfein,
Belle Mead

Government expands here in New Jersey

As co-signers of the legislative amicus brief to oppose the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, we thank Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Westfield) for his tireless efforts in fighting this huge expansion of government power. The threat to personal freedom the act imposes by requiring citizens to purchase a product cannot be underestimated.

Once it is enshrined in law and precedent, government will be able to — and it will — require us to purchase any number of products or services because some bureaucrat determines that it is in our “best interest” to do so. We believe that we, as free people, best determine what is in our own interest. We stand with Rep. Lance and Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-Middletown) , the prime legislator to sign the amicus brief, in support of liberty and in opposition to a paternalistic and authoritarian view of “government knows best.”

In New Jersey, another threat looms in the form of S1566, “New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act,” which does nothing to prevent families from losing their homes. Once they are out, it turns their abandoned properties over to activist groups to be doled out to their “clients” for affordable housing. To fund this, the measure proposes to use tax dollars through borrowing without voter approval.

Rep. Lance has long been the champion of taxpayers in this regard. When he was a member of the Legislature, it was Mr. Lance’s legislation that banned borrowing without voter approval. We believe S1566 violates both the letter and spirit of Rep. Lance’s successful legislation.

Americans for Prosperity – led by Steve Lonegan – is leading the fight against S1566. All taxpayers should join with Rep. Lance and Steve Lonegan in their opposition to this unfettered growth in government, spending and debt.

-- Alison Littell McHose and Gary Chiusano,
Sparta
The writers are Republicans who represent the 24th District in the New Jersey General Assembly.

Using study drugs is risky business

College can be difficult. Peer pressure, tuition, term papers, campus activities and the desire for academic excellence can make life for a college student overwhelming at times. With finals starting soon, the New Jersey poison experts encourage parents of college students to talk to their children about the dangers of “study drugs” and the symptoms they may cause.

Students often believe that the drugs enhance or focus concentration and increase stamina when they cram for tests or write lengthy papers.

The use of study drugs is not new. For years, college students have looked for ways to make studying easier, more efficient and more manageable. The drugs of choice are prescription stimulants (amphetamine derivates) and caffeine.

Some students without ADHD abuse medicines that contain the stimulants dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate and their derivatives as a study drug. For some people with undiagnosed or pre-existing mental health issues, these prescription drugs can make their conditions worse. Chronic use also can lead to addiction. Parents should remind their children that it is illegal and it may be harmful to share their prescription medications with someone else.

Historically, students drank multiple cups of coffee or tea to help them get through all-nighters.

Caffeine pills can contain up to three times the amount in a cup of coffee, however, and energy drinks also contain a large amount of caffeine, and some contain additional stimulants.

-- Alicia Gambino, M.A., MCHES,
Newark
The writer is director of public education for the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (njpies.org), at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.